Tennis: Marama bows out of ASB Classic

New Zealand wildcard Eden Marama was knocked out in the second round of the ASB Classic tennis tournament at Auckland today, going down 4-6 5-7 to eighth seeded German Anca Barna.

Paris-based 17-year-old Marama put up a brave fight against a player seven years her senior and ranked 443 places higher in the world but eventually paid for too many unforced errors.

Marama became the first New Zealander to reach the second round of the tournament since 1999.

She won her first-round match against compatriot Shelley Stephens and at times threatened to upset Barna, finishing with 16 winners to the German's 10.

However, her error rate - she made 31 unforced errors to Barna's 14 - eventually told.

Both sets in the one hour 25 minute match were similar, with the two players trading an early break before Marama suffered another break late in each set.

- NZPA